All posts from Mark Graban’s LeanBlog.org, including podcasts, announcements, articles, and more.
Last week was our fifth annual KaiNexus User Conference (or “KaiNexicon” as we now call it). One of our keynote speakers was Jess Orr, a former Toyota engineer who shared perspectives on what it was like to now lead continuous…
tl;dr: We often label small changes as “Just Do Its,” but that can skip over useful thinking. Even the simplest Kaizen can follow a quick PDSA cycle–Plan, Do, Study, Adjust–to ensure we’re learning and improving, not just acting. Maybe it’s…
tl;dr: Red/green metrics and single-point comparisons hide important signals in your data. Time-series charts and Process Behavior Charts reveal when systems actually change–and when leaders should learn instead of overreact. In many organizations, leaders rely on red/green color-coding to evaluate…
Healthcare – Creating Value for Patients Globally, at least 5 patients die every minute due to unsafe care. For Patient Safety Week, the World Health Organization is calling for urgent action to reduce patient harm in healthcare. On this theme, Manitoba discloses…
TL;DR: The wedge metaphor, often used to represent standardized work in Lean, can send the wrong message. Instead of assuming people will backslide without enforcement, we should focus on engaging them in meaningful improvements they want to sustain. Maybe it’s…
I want to give credit to my friend and colleague Tony Milian for the idea that prompted this blog post. Tony and I used to work together in a Lean healthcare consulting group that was part of Johnson & Johnson…
My guest for episode #349 is John Dyer, president of his consulting firm, John Dyer & Associates, Inc., and author of the new book, The Façade of Excellence: Defining a New Normal of Leadership, which will be released on October 1,…
This ad caught my attention while watching a little bit of Monday Night Football this week. It’s an IBM ad titled “Smart Loves Problems.” The ad’s voiceover says, in part: “Problems. It’s human nature to hate problems. But why is…
Cleveland Clinic’s daily tiered huddles are not just short meetings–they’re a Lean management system that connects front-line realities to executive decision-making in real time. By combining visual management, clear escalation rules, and psychological safety, these huddles help teams solve problems…
Healthcare – Creating Value for Patients Canadian healthcare policy limits true innovation by clinging to outdated thinking developed in times of much slower change and technological sophistication. If we want patients to benefit from technological innovation, Canada must relax or reinvent…
It’s two episodes in a row with Jamie Flinchbaugh, as we’re both back for Episode #7 of the Lean Whiskey podcast. This Sunday, I’ll be recording Episode #8 with another guest host, my friend Cristal Totterman who does Lean work…
tl;dr: ESPN’s quick change to a confusing MNF scoreboard graphic shows how fast feedback and responsiveness can turn a misstep into a learning moment. Real-world PDSA doesn’t require perfection–just the willingness to study, adjust, and improve quickly. Whether in sports…
